Malaria in Norway 1978-2002 : epidemiology and clinical description

View/Open

Year

Permanent link

Metadata

Appears in the following Collection

Abstract

Background: In 2002 Folkehelseinstituttet in Norway started a relatively large study of all the reported cases of malaria in Norway the last 25 years, between 1978 and 2002. As medical students we wanted to make a presentation of malaria as well as some preliminary results from this ongoing study. Material and methods: By analyzing data from The Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases (MSIS) from 1978 to 2002, and the Personal Register System in Norway, we gathered information on patients´ birthcountry and date of arrival in Norway, the type of Plasmodium giving rise to infection, and in which country they have been infected. Background information on malaria was gathered from Norwegian and international literature and studies. Results: During the 25 years 1527 cases of malaria was imported into Norway. Vivax has been the most commonly reported plasmodium species (44.4%). Pakistan had a total number of 252 cases of malaria, being the largest single country of infection in the study. Other significant countries: Kenya, Tanzania, India, Ghana, Nigeria. A group of 45 immigrants were registered with malaria less than three months after their first arrival in Norway. 266 was registered with malaria more than one year after arrival. A total of 342 immigrants were registered with malaria after registration in the Norwegian Personal Register. Interpretation: Immigrants constitute a relatively large group of malaria patients in Norway. Emphasis should be put on further investigation on the use of prophfylaxis in this population and on more information given on risks during visits to immigrants endemic home countries.